APOLOGY xm
here, I hope readers will duly consider it, instead of taking the current view dogmatically for granted, and crushing me by pointing out that mine does not coincide with it. A petitio principii is no refutation.
The long time I have kept this treatise by me unpublished ought to supply sufficient proof of the extreme timidity with which I myself regard it. That timidity may perhaps be allowed to protect me from harsh, unkindly, and contemptuous criticism. If I am wrong, of course, I shall expect to be frankly told so: I shall accept demonstration of my mistakes and misconceptions with a good grace. Naturally, I shall continue still to think myself right: it is not in human nature to do otherwise : the theory has too long interwoven itself into all my conceptions of the physical world to be easily rooted out of the fibres of my brain now after so many years. But having once consented to trot out my little heresy unwillingly before the eyes of the world, I shall drop it in public henceforth and for ever. I will make no angry replies to authoritative expositions of my blunders or errors : I will abstain from imitating the common paradox-monger, who, hardened in his obliquity, sees only unfair attacks and unworthy motives in demonstrative criticism. ' I'm not a-arguin' with you; I'm